Need to increase the size of my college list!

College Search & Selection
1

Hello,

So at the moment, I am pretty sure that I want to study economics in college, but do not necessarily want to attend and undergraduate business school. Right now i’m thinking maybe a LAC would be a good choice.

I live in the northeast, and would like to stay in that region, but am open to going as far down as north carolina or in the chicago, Illinois area.

I’m a Junior from Vermont

My GPA is around a 3.75/4 UW

Top 5% of my class.

ACT: 31 (34 ENG, 33 MATH, 26 READ, 32 SCI, 10 WRI) —plan on retaking in the fall.

SAT II - taking in June (Chemistry and US History)

Have virtuously the most rigorous schedule my school provides. Will be 7 out of the 8 total AP’s my school provides by the end of senior year.

I don’t know how relevant or necessary an of this information is but here:

Junior Class President

Hoping to become President/Vice President of National Honor Society and Volunteer Club at school.

Helped local Food Pantry 10 weekends last summer.

Around 125 total volunteer hours, kind of scattered among places, but all through the “Interact Club” that i’m a part of. Except for 50 which were earned through Volunteer Camp hosted by University of Notre Dame

Cost is not a worry at the moment.

Schools I have noted so far:

Wake Forest
Davidson
Notre Dame (Parent is an alum)
Bates
UVM (State school)
Trinity

Any suggestions are appreciated!

2

Also forgot to mention:

Varsity Basketball 2 years
Varsity Golf team 4 years

3

What can you afford? There are tons of great LACs. I’d suggest you go through the list below and see which ones interest you and are academic matches. There are tons of great LACs out there.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges

4

@happy1 explicitly stated the answer to every single on of those questions on the original post.

5

If you prefer liberal arts colleges, and are attracted to NC, Guilford would be a good safety for you. UNC-Asheville is another possibility.

6

^ No you did not. You dodged the affordability question

You need to have that talk with your parents. It makes no sense to apply to places you can’t afford at all.

On a side note Denison will give you merit $.

7

Skidmore and Wheaton (MA) are probably solid matches for you, among northern liberal arts colleges. Hamilton, Hobart, and Clark are other possibilities.

8

Unless you are absolutely certain that your parents CAN and WILL pay $60-$70K per year for 4 years, then cost is a worry. Sorry, but one of the largest aspects of fitting colleges is the financial aspect. Do try to get an idea how much your parents can pay - we can help you better.

9

Sorry if it was not clear.

Cost in not an issue for my family.

thanks for your suggestions; i hope this opens the floodgates for more…

10

Are you planning to play one of your sports in college and are you recruitable?

Given Wake Forest, Davidson, and Trinity on your list, I assume a more preppy environment appeals to you?

Its hard to fathom you won’t get accepted at UVM. Are you content using that as your sole safety school or do you want other safeties as well?

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@doschicos I’m not planning to play a sport in college, i just was unsure how little/much i should include about my high school career.

i have only visited wake and davidson, not trinity. i didn’t get the preppy vibe form davidson, but i did from wake. To answer your question-the preppy vibe is not something that appeals to me, or something that i noticed at the schools i have visited.

yes, I’m nearly positive i will get into UVM. I would like more safety schools ( i don’t want to attend UVM), but ones that are relatively more competitive than UVM

thank you

12

Definitely take a look at Washington & Lee in Virginia.

13

If you are female, some of the women’s college could work especially one of the consortiums.

14

Do you really need more than six?

I know it’s the fashion nowadays to apply to 12 or 20, but if you have a good array of reaches, matches and safeties there’s no reason to apply to more than 6-8 IMHO.

If there’s anything your list is missing, it’s a real safety. A school you’re certain to be admitted to, that you can afford, and that you wouldn’t mind attending, if you were shut out everywhere else. Perhaps Johnson or Castleton State?

The rest seem good, assuming affordability.

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@hsalem32 - 3 more questions: How do you feel about greek life? Does it appeal to you, turn you off, or indifferent?
Are you male or female? Prefer closer/in a city or more rural?

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As for college ideas I have a very intelligent friend going to McGill University in Canada for Economics and he loves it. You may also look at The University of Texas, they have a reputable program. Additionally you mentioned Trinity, they will give you a good amount of scholarships especially if you get your ACT/SAT score up there. Having personally applied and been accepted, I think Trinity offers a fantastic liberal arts education, but may not offer the best name recognition once your graduate, especially in economics.

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You can browse an online list that combines the style of education you currently prefer with your interest in economics: “Top 25% Economics Departments at Liberal Arts Colleges, as of April 2015.”

The Top Ten+

  1. Williams
  2. Wellesley
  3. Middlebury
  4. Wesleyan
  5. Hamilton
  6. Claremont McKenna (Economics Dept.)
  7. Claremont McKenna (Robert Day School of Economics and Finance)
  8. Vassar
  9. Colgate
  10. University of Richmond
  11. Bates
  12. Trinity

(I don’t know why there is a distinction within Claremont McKenna.)

The full online list will give you even more possibilities. I’d recommend you use the information to add colleges you might not have otherwise considered, not to remove colleges you already like. The main thing holding you back from a couple on the list is your anomalous ACT reading score. Any improvement there couid help your admissions chances immensely.

St. Lawrence is a fine school that you would likely be admitted to. Union has some similarities with Trinity and is worth a look.

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@doschicos I’m a male. Indifferent to greek life. Would prefer to be closer/in a city.

@NavalTradition my list is nowhere near refined. I’m just looking to get a broad list so i can begin to make changes and finalize.

UVM is a real safety, and those two schools are, sorry, not nearly the level of institution that i’m thinking about attending.

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@merc81 i am aware of the reading score, and hopefully it will be raised when i retake the test next fall (using prep scholar). thank you for the list.

and thank you, that was the type of information i was looking for

20

@hsalem32 - Here’s some thoughts on some schools to read up on and see if they interest you. Most LACs will have a decent econ dept. You stated a preference for closer or in a city.

Bowdoin - reach, as it is for pretty much everybody. You like Bates, Bowdoin is similar. Academically strong. Brunswick is a great little town, and Portland is just 30 minutes away. Love Portland - great dining scene, hip, great live music scene. Access to ocean and mountains if you like to ski and hike. You can take the train right from Brunswick to Portland and Boston.

URichmond - similar vibe to Wake Forest

Haverford (Low reach) - very good econ dept., bucolic campus but a quick 15-20 minute commuter train ride into Philly, another city with a music scene, art scene, great dining. Swarthmore (reach) is close by and worth a look as well.

Connecticut College - I see this as being a possible safety for you. Easy to hop on Amtrak and get to Providence, Boston, or NYC for a city fix.

Not near big cities but Colgate and Hamilton are worth a look for Econ at LACs.

Holy Cross (low match) - in Worcester (not my favorite city but still a city) and strong academics.

Dickinson (safety) - pretty campus and town. Merit money. Well managed school.

I know you stated a preference for the Northeast but consider applying to a school or two in another geographic location, as you might get a small bump from bringing geographic diversity plus a lot of them offer merit money. some suggestions:

Colorado College (match) - In Colorado Springs, but great access to nature, unique and interesting block plan, it is popular with New England kids.

Macalester College (low match/safety) - In St. Paul MN, very international. Great cafes, coffee shops, ethnic restaurants, etc within walking distance

Carleton College - 45 min from Minny/St. Paul. One of my favorite LACs so I like to put it on people’s radar. No merit aid but known for being generous with need based aid if you qualify. (Low reach) If you go to look at Carleton, check out St. Olaf (safety and merit aid) in the same town.

With LACs, demonstrated interest is usually very important in the admissions process. When you finalize your list, make sure you show your schools the love, including/especially your matches and safeties.

Edit: From your list, I like Davidson and Bates for you.